THE Government has agreed to withdraw its disapproval of the USAID-funded Leadership and Democracy Project (LEAD), Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon told reporters yesterday.

The Cabinet Secretary said this decision was made to allow for the Government and the U.S. Ambassador to re-engage in discussions on the project.
Dr Luncheon explained that the process of re-negotiation has already commenced. He said the outcome is to have a project that is mutually accepted before it is signed off.
The controversial project, which was being implemented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) despite Government’s non-approval, was recently put on hold to facilitate discussions between the two-sides with a view to having a re-engagement of the project at a later date.
In July 2013, the U.S. launched the LEAD project without the formal sanction of the Guyana Government and went ahead implementing various aspects.
The U.S. Government on April 30 conveyed its willingness to temporarily suspend the project’s implementation.

(GINA)